Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery
Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery at night
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| Established | 1835 |
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| Location | The Square, Shrewsbury, England |
| Coordinates | 52°42′26″N 2°45′17″W / 52.707150°N 2.7548110°W |
| Type | Local Authority museum |
| Collection size | approx. 300,000 objects |
| Visitors | 300,000-350,000 expected per annum |
| Website | www |
Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery was founded in 1835 as the Museum of the Shropshire and North Wales Natural History and Antiquarian Society Society in Dogpole, Shrewsbury, England. In 1853 the collections were moved to Vaughan's Mansion on College Hill, which became known as the Shropshire and North Wales Museum. After 160 years and two subsequent homes the museum returned to Vaughan's Mansion and the Music Hall Complex after a major redevelopment of the site.
The Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery was founded in 1835 as the Museum of the Shropshire and North Wales Natural History and Antiquarian Society Society in Dogpole, Shrewsbury. In 1853 the collections were moved to Vaughan's Mansion on College Hill, which became known as the Shropshire and North Wales Museum.
In 1877 the Society merged with newly formed Shropshire Archaeological Society to become Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. That year the museum accepted a major collection of finds recently excavated at Wroxeter.
The museum celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1885 with the transfer of the museum and library to the recently vacated old Shrewsbury School building. At this time the museum was placed under public ownership (Corporation of Shrewsbury) - becoming Shrewsbury Museum and Free Library.
In 1894 the Curator, George Holt, published the Rules of the Shrewsbury Free Museum. These state that:
In 1931 'Rowley's House' was acquired by the Corporation of Shrewsbury through the generosity of Morris and Co. for the particular purpose of housing archaeological material from the site of Viroconium Cornoviorum near Wroxeter. The building opened to the public seven years later and became known as the Uriconium or Roman Museum.
Local Government re-organisation in 1974 resulted in Shrewsbury Library and the old Shrewsbury School building being transferred to ownership of Shropshire County Council. However, the Museum Collections were retained by the new Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and transferred to Rowley's House and other Borough Council buildings. In 1981 Rowley’s Mansion opened after its purchase and refurbishment to extend the Roman Museum, allowing it to house additional collections.
In 2009, with the creation of a unitary authority for Shropshire, Shrewsbury Museum Service merged with Shropshire County Museum Service. Shropshire Council's Shropshire Museums continues to manage the museum as part of a portfolio of seven sites across the county.
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